Break the Law, Get a Pardon

In what is becoming routine, Donald Trump issued another pardon. This time to “two Oregon cattle ranchers,” The New York Times reports (July 10), “who had been serving out five-year sentences for arson on federal land — punishments that inspired the armed occupation of a wildlife refuge in 2016 and brought widespread attention to anger over federal land management in the Western United States.”

Dwight L. Hammond, and his son Steven D. Hammond, are just the latest in a growing list of pardons by Trump:

Former Arizona sheriff, Joe Arpaio, convicted of contempt of court after ignoring a judge’s order to stop racially profiling Latinos… Pardoned. (Arpaio is currently running to fill Senator Jeff Flake’s seat in the Senate.)

Lewis “Scooter” Libby – convicted of lying to the FBI and obstruction of justice. Libby was given a thirty-month prison sentence that was later commuted by George W. Bush, but Bush refused to pardon him despite pleas from Vice-President Dick Cheney. Trump has given him a Full Pardon.

Martha Stewart – convicted of obstruction of justice, and making false statements to investigators.

Rod Blagojevich – convicted of corruption charges relating to his attempt to sell the Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama when he was elected president.

“The Hammonds are the sixth and seventh people to receive pardons from Mr. Trump,” The Times writes. “In all his pardons, Mr. Trump bypassed the typical process (a five-year waiting period is required for requests to be made to the Justice Department) and passed over the more than 10,000 pardon and clemency applications.”